What is the salary and career path for a budget analyst?
Budget analyst maps exactly to Budget Analysts (SOC 13-2031), its own BLS code; the OEWS May 2025 median is $91,640 a year ($44.06 an hour), from $62,250 at the 10th percentile to $136,660 at the 90th for senior government and corporate analysts. BLS projects the code to grow just 1% over 2024–2034 — essentially flat — with roughly 3,100 openings a year, mostly from replacement. The role needs a bachelor's degree, often in accounting, finance or public administration, and the CGFM credential helps in the public sector where much of the work sits.
- Budget Analysts earn a national median $91,640/yr ($44.06/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2031); the top 10% clear $136,660.
- Budget analyst maps exactly to Budget Analysts (SOC 13-2031), with a $91,640 median and a $136,660 top decile for senior analysts.
- BLS projects the code to grow just 1% through 2034 — essentially flat — with roughly 3,100 openings a year, mostly from replacement.
- Pay runs from a junior analyst near $62,250 to a budget officer at the $136,660 top decile, with the CGFM as a public-sector accelerator.
Career Path
How do you become a budget analyst?
Junior budget analyst
Compiling budget data and tracking spending, a junior analyst starts near the $62,250 10th percentile.
Budget Analyst
Owning a program or department budget and forecasts earns around the $91,640 median.
Senior budget analyst
Leading agency or division budgeting pushes pay toward the $114,220 75th percentile.
Budget officer / manager
Owning the whole budget process and team reaches the $136,660 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays budget analysts the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2031. National median: $91,640. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does budget analyst pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles budget analysts most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: budget analysts rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +1% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly budget analysts clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2031 (budget analysts) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do budget analysts need?
A degree in accounting, finance, economics or public administration is the standard entry credential. See all state licences →
The AGA credential valued for federal, state and local government budget work.
The Certified Defense Financial Manager credential for Department of Defense budgeting roles.
Demonstrated command of budget construction, forecasting and variance analysis.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do budget analysts use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 13-2031
Salary Levers
How do budget analysts earn above the $91,640 BLS median?
CGFM or CDFM credential
Government credentials support moving off the $62,250 entry band toward the median in public-sector roles.
Budget scope and sector
Owning larger agency or corporate budgets lifts pay toward the $114,220 upper band.
Advancement to budget officer
Managing the budget process and team pushes pay toward the $136,660 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a budget analyst worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2031. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Budget Analyst Career, Frequently Asked Questions
Budget Analyst career research journey
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